The Sulfate to Chloride Ratio of your brewing water can help you determine how the combination of these ions will be perceived in the taste of your beer. These ratios will determine if your brewing water chemistry is more fitting for a beer that is more malt forward or more focused on bitterness.
This difference in taste can be perceived as either fullness compared to dryness. Or maltiness compared to Bitterness. If brewing a beer that is high fullness or malt focused, then the ratio of sulfate to chloride should be low. Since Chloride increases perceived fullness.
Levels of Sulfate to Chloride Ratios
If you are brewing a beer that emphasizes bitterness or dryness, then it should have a higher sulfate to chloride ratio.
- Very Dry Beers: Ratio over 2.0
- Dry Beers: Around 2.0
- Balanced Beers: Around 1.3
- Full-Bodied Beers: Around 0.75
- Very Full or Malty Beers: Around 0.5
Limits for the Sulfate/Chloride Ratio
- If chloride levels are below 25 ppm, the ratio becomes unreliable due to minimal flavor impact.
- If chloride levels exceed 100 ppm, the high concentration can overwhelm the flavor balance, making the ratio less meaningful.
How to Measure your Sulfate to Chloride Ratio
To calculate your ratio:
Sulfate (ppm) ÷ Chloride (ppm) = Sulfate/Chloride Ratio
The Craft Pro In-Lab Master Brewer’s Test Kit will measure your Sulfate and Chloride concentrations as well as calculate your Sulfate/Chloride Ratio for you.
Once you order your test kit, we will ship you everything you need to collect your sample and ship it back to our EPA-Certified laboratory.
We will then test your brewing liquid for fifteen essential brewing parameters and calculate your sulfate/chloride ratio and your residual alkalinity. It also includes 10 Free DIY Test Strips to monitor your water quality between lab tests.
